The Indian Navy on Monday commissioned INS Mahe, the first vessel of the Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC), at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. The ceremony was presided over by Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Upendra Dwivedi, with Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, hosting the event.
Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), INS Mahe marks a significant milestone in indigenous shipbuilding, featuring over 80 per cent indigenous content. Compact, agile and equipped with stealth and advanced sensors, the vessel is designed for anti-submarine operations, coastal patrol and securing India’s maritime approaches.
“The commissioning of INS Mahe reaffirms the Navy’s steadfast transformation into a Builders’ Navy, one that designs, constructs, and sustains its own combat platforms. Today, over 75 percent platforms of the Navy’s capital acquisition are sourced indigenously. From warships and submarines to high sonar and weapon systems, Indian shipyards, public and private, stand as a living proof of our nation’s industrial and technological dominance,” General Dwivedi said.
“The Army and Navy have always stood shoulder to shoulder during HADR missions and amphibious operations,” he said, praising the Navy’s long-term expansion plan aimed at building a formidable, networked, multi-dimensional maritime force.
Addressing the commissioning crew, General Dwivedi said INS Mahe now carries with her the “collective faith of a nation.”
“From this day forward, the mantle of responsibility rests upon the Commanding Officer and the commissioning crew. A ship is only as strong as the man who sails her,” he said, adding that India sleeps peacefully because its sailors remain alert across the oceans.
The Army Chief also highlighted the synergy among the armed forces, stating that land, sea and air form a “single continuum of national security.”
“In this age of multi-domain operations, our ability to act in concert—from the heights of Ladakh to the depths of the Indian Ocean—will determine the security of our Republic,” he said. He referenced Operation Sindoor as a recent example of successful tri-service coordination.
According to the Ministry of Defence, INS Mahe represents the cutting edge of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat programme in ship design and construction. With advanced weaponry, high manoeuvrability and modern sensors, the vessel is designed to function as a “Silent Hunter” on the Western Seaboard.
INS Mahe will enhance the Navy’s capability to detect and neutralise underwater threats in shallow waters, a critical requirement for safeguarding India’s coastline and sea lanes.
After the ceremony, General Dwivedi undertook a guided tour of the newly commissioned ship.
(With ANI inputs)